chapter one

                                    

                                          
The huge room seems almost empty apart from the big shelf's stacked with books surrounding the entire sections of the walls, with a small desk and chair push to one of the corner, Kelly Richardson heals echoed in the room as she cross the floor, 
"Can I help you?" A male voice hoarsely asked, 
"Oh!" Kelly said frightened for she didn't see anyone, 
"How can I help you?" The voice sounded again this time a bit clearer, she look and the figure of a tall man appears wearing entire black standing on a ladder arranging books, though it was the middle of the day the blinds were close and the drapes drawn making it impossible to see, she was sure she got the right place, the address on the paper her father gave her said Brooklyn new York thirty four street,  mail box  twenty two, she look over it again sure she got in the right building,
"I'm here to see professor Carlton" Kelly said to the man's back, "the door was open so I let myself in"
"Professor Carlton is busy he won't see you today" the man said
"When can I come back?" Kelly ask
"Never, professor Carlton doesn't see anyone anymore, the door is still open bet you can let yourself out as well"
"It is important that I talk to the professor" Kelly said by now she figure the man must be who she's looking for,
"What made it so important that you talk to the professor?" He ask
"You see professor  Richardson had sent me"
Sheldon Carlton was shock to hear that name professor Richardson was the one who took him under his wings when his father died and teach him a few things, gave him a job that able him to send himself through college, its been a few years since that name came up apart from the old letters he wrote to him, they lost contact long ago, when  he had first moved  here  from Portland they use to wrote letters but since the attack he haven't done much communicating, and had lost contact with almost everyone, but professor Richardson was a man he could never for get much as he had stop keeping in touch,  
Sheldon climb from the ladder and walk to wards Kelly for the first time she felt shaken facing a man she wasn't sure was the man she came to see,
"who are you?" He ask
"Kelly, Kelly Richardson my dad sent me"
Sheldon got closer and for an instance could see the resemblance. 
"You're professor Richardson daughter?"
"I'm afraid so" Kelly said 
Sheldon couldn't believe it that professor Richardson daughter had grown so big, she was much young when he saw her last, he can't remember how old but she was quite young he's been living here almost eight years now, 
Kelly tried to get a glimpse of his face for she remembered her father said professor Carlton has a scar for few years back he got mug  and was cut in the face since that he  didn't see anyone anymore but once he learn it is his daughter he'll see her, Kelly wonder why he didn't see anyone yet still his door was  left open she wonder if he does book rental  or he simply  collect books for keeping, not even in a public library she had seen this many book a shelf ran from the ground to the very top of the wall, from the dark of the room she saw that they were nearly stack and bet they were all in order,
"My dad died a few months a go" Kelly try to explain, Right before he died he gave me this "
"Died" Sheldon though his heart shank with regrets hearing such news that the man he looked up to had past he was deeply sorry to hear but he didn't show his emotions,
"What's that?" He ask
"Professor Carlton information he said I would find him here"
"Was your father a wear that the professor  don't see anyone anymore?"
"He said that too, he said once I find him I should give him  this" Kelly pulled an envelope from her bag, Sheldon stretch for it, but Kelly didn't hand it to him, I want to give it to him my self, Kelly said she  has the feeling he is the professor but wish to have him say it, 
"I am professor Carlton" Sheldon said, reaching again for it, she didn't hesitate this time, handing the envelope to the professor,
"I don't teach anymore" Sheldon said before he took  the envelope,
"My father knew that too professor Carlton he didn't send me here for you to teach me maybe you'll understand after reading his letter" Sheldon took the envelope from her fingers rip it open and didn't have to think if it was the professor that had written the letter, 
"DEAR CARLTON IF YOU GOT THIS LETTER IT MEANS THAT I AM DEAD, I KNOW IT SEEMS ODD THAT I AM WRITING TO YOU NOW BUT I KNOW FROM A WHILE THAT I'M SICK BUT I'VE ASK GOD TO ALLOWED ME TO SEND  NY DAUGHTER THROUGH COLLEGE I DON'T  KNOW FOR HOW LONG AFTER SHE'S DONE  WITH COLLEGE BEFORE I'LL PAST AND SHE MIGHT NOT COME TO SEE YOU RIGHT AFTER MY PASTING,  BUT I HAVE SENT HER TO YOU FOR YOU TO HELP HER GET A JOB IN YOUR CITY, FOR SURE I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T MOVE, I WANT HER TO HAVE A HOME   AND TO BE AROUND SOMEONE  WHO IS LIKE FAMILY, I KNOW MY DAUGHTER WELL,  NOT ONLY IS SHE BRIGHT AND INTELLIGENCE, SHE'S A WONDERFUL YOUNG WOMAN THAT WILL ONE DAY MAKE A MAN A HAPPY MAN, I TRUST YOU TO LOOK AFTER HER FOR ME, I DIED IN IN PEACE KNOWING THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS ONCE SHE FOUND YOU, THANK YOU YOURS TRULY PROFESSOR RICHARDSON, PS TAKE GOOD CARE",
Sheldon fold the letter putting it back in the envelope, he didn't plan on having anyone imposing on his life he wanted to continue living alone and free from the world but if he didn't take this girl in he would be dishonoring the professor who helped him to become the man he is today the one people remembered him to be, he wasn't that man anymore he was a scared face man with no one but himself no family no friends no one, 
"Come this way" Sheldon said and Kelly followed him through a small door it wasn't as big as the book room but with the same attire the blinds were close and the drapes drawn the dim light from a small table way in a corner didn't do much for the big empty room apart from the small table nothing else was in the room, Kelly wonder if this was the professor everyday life, why is he so coop up  wondering if it was because of the scar,
"It feels deserted in here" Kelly said as she followed the professor through another door, thought empty she could see a little light coming in from the outside, He didn't go any further than the door "help yourself" he said pointing to some more doors down the passage, she turn to look at him but he turn and she couldn't see his face all that clear, "make yourself comfortable" he told her and disappear down the dark room again, 
With a sigh Kelly continue to walk pushing back the first door and discover a well decorated room what seems to be a living room with nice furniture's a flat screen television and a component set, a nice pair of big white sofa and a set of glass top table, the drapes pulled back and the windows open with a crack making the afternoon air smells fresh, she walk to the window and peek outside. From the window the street of new York seems even more beautiful than Kelly imagine, from the living room to the huge dinning room, that was full of life the big chandelier hang from the ceiling, and the huge room was make from glass from the large dinning table to the door she could see herself everywhere even the floor seems glassy, Kelly felt she had just walked out of a nightmare comparing to where she had been, the two biggest room together felt it wasn't part of a house but a place put aside for recycling, and storing it was lifeless, wondering how such a room could be, thinking if she has the hortatory to change things those two rooms would be where she'd start, 
From the dinning room she step into another room one not as big as the living room or the dinning room  but big enough with a large book shelf a sitting area with three sofas a coffee table and across from there a marble top table with setting of crockery pictures of painting hand from the four side of the walls, on a shelf were Plack's from a bible verse to a love poem, some thank you and some saying good wishes, she left and went in to another room it was a huge bedroom that didn't seems to be use for ages the bed was twice the size she left back in Portland it was nice she love every piece of furniture inside glad to stay in it she left her bag in the middle of the bed and her suitcase by the bed she didn't brought much she left with the intention that once she got here she could do some shopping she make sure that the necessaries were brought with her, her rag, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, flossing kit deodorant and others she find her way to a bathroom and realize that all the stuff she carries were already here curling iron, shampoo, conditioner, blow dryer and hair brush with combs of different sizes, the shower made from glass she pull back the door and could see her self imaging herself in the shower making out with someone and was able to see every move they made thinking it must be what the professor did, Kelly remembered her father said he never got married, she wonder if he just sleeps around or he didn't do any of it, the thought of a man professor Carlton's age not having sex sounds creepy, at thirty she hope to settle down even with one kid that much she wanted by then she hope to be in a good job, her dad had promise that professor Carlton will get her a job she hope he will with what her father tells her he was a great man well known, Kelly pulled back another door find herself back in the passage from which she entered the living room, only further down, there were more than four other doors that she took notice of, three that were bedrooms with their own bathroom, a single bathroom, the other door leads to a kitchen with nice settings a kitchen such as this was always in her dream the stove to the center of the kitchen counter, the oven in to the wall and the shelf's and cupboard together it was shiny from pots to spoon to the marble tiles counter tops she marvel at the beauty of a mans kitchen her dream kitchen, she open the large three door  refrigerator two up top and the other that open like a drawer, thought it was completely empty it was still plugged in like all the other appliances in the kitchen he has a coffee maker and a rice cooker, to a egg mixture, after leaving the kitchen she entered again in the dinning room looking in to see the living room the first place she saw she leave back out the kitchen door back inside the passage to open the next door she saw coats, umbrellas, water boots the door next to that door opened and Kelly find herself outside on a patio with a few steps going down in to the front yard wondering if she had mistakenly entered someone else home she went down on to the grassy front lawn with nice flowers plants in pots and on the lawn she looks around and saw a drive way only a few steps from where she stands, she followed the small track and found a garage with two cars park in they look Farley new or maybe because they haven't been use apart from the cars a bike and a snow mobile, She look for another door but the garage was the only place down there, she didn't do anything else other than to turn taking back the steps, she close the door behind her 
walking back down to the huge room where the professor kept his book collection, he was still arranging shelf's he was now at another shelf   dusting and neatly backing she figure in a place such as this the books probably were all arrange by fiction, numbers and letters, from the dark she couldn't tell, but she could tell this room alone was twice the size of the other side she had seen, it was like a place built back to back with another building, and entered from different street, the front and this has no connection from outside, but more than one door could be detected on the inside, leaving Kelly to wonder, where they leads to, 
"I see you find your way around" he said when she reentered the room 
"Yes I have, it did took some time though" Kelly said "thank you for allowing me to stay here I just hope not to get lost" she told him, walking around to where he was, 
"Mmh" he said making him appears to be more old than he seems to be she wasn't sure if his glasses were reading glasses or he just wear them, he came down from the ladder and walk to another shelf instead of going on the ladder he open a small door Kelly notice for the first time like inside the book room it was also dark she couldn't see much, She wonder if it was just another room fill with books when he came carrying a few in his hands, he looks around for somewhere to rest them in order to move the ladder, "need any help?" Kelly ask
Sheldon was about to say no but instead gave her the books to hold while he move the ladder,
"Do you do this everyday professor?"
"Yes" 
Kelly laugh "how do you sleep at nights, after all the books you have to arranges?"
"I don't sleep" he told her, and from the tone in his voice he didn't, do you always live alone?" Kelly ask
"Do you always ask this much questions?" Sheldon ask
"When I want to get to know something"
"Is that so, how do you like your new home?" 
New home sounds strange to Kelly she haven't even been here more than a few hours she like the whole setting that's for sure but the kitchen was fabulous because it was how she imagine her kitchen to be, "it's alright" she answered
"Just alright?" He ask "you are going to be staying here for a while more than that will be required"
Kelly sigh" it will take a little time to adjust "
"Take all the time you need"
"Do you eat?" Kelly ask
"Are you hungry?"
"Well yes and your kitchen is empty"
"There's the telephone and a number under neath it In there" he point to the door from whence she came, 
"You order food very day?", "one hour service great food anyway you like it" it wasn't what she wants but it seems to be the only option she head inside the room she was a sure the professor came in behind her, he was in the doorway when she looks around, 
"Should i order for you too?" Kelly ask "a cheese burger and a large apple juice" he said turning to look at her she caught a glimpse of the scar that outline the corner of his eye almost as if his mugger was trying to slice his face apart, it wasn't that long but it was a bit wide noticeable as well  if you were looking for it like she was, 
It was a wonder he was so coop up and afraid to see the light, with the scar he still look handsome Kelly wasn't sure if it was the dim light that cause it, she make the order for a large pizza with extra cheese and a soda  for herself, she went to change into something more comfortable, by she got back the delivery had been made her order was sitting on the table in the book room, but the professor and his order was no where to be seen she took her order and head back down to the living room back in the book room felt completely night but from this side it was barely evening Kelly walk to the windows to peep out all of them were ground windows and all of them open  four to each side of the large straight glass that double in the middle, she got back to sit on one of the sofa facing the large television that was blank she saw the remote on top of the component set she press the power button and music blast out the set, she turn it off quickly and turn on the television turning it down low, she got comfortable and relax, later falling asleep it was near two in the night when she woke up to find herself in front the television it took her a while to adjust waking up in a new environment,apart from the television light and the street lights no other light was on, Kelly got up and found her way to the kitchen the light flicker before it comes on brightening the kitchen like the light from the day, she put the left over pizza and soda in the refrigerator, at the corner near to the door she found a trash can to dispose some garbage she turn out the light and went back to the living room to close the windows and pull down the drapes before turning off the television and go inside the room turning on the light and closed the door behind her she ramble through  her suitcase for her toothbrush and after brushing her teeth she climb in to bed and although she had fallen asleep earlier it didn't took her long to fall back to sleep.